Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The People of Myanmar

Not less than 135 distinct ethnic groups are officially recognized by the Burmese government. Ethnologists see four main groups:

Tibeto-Burman: Migrants from the Tibetan Plateau. Include the Bamar, the Rakhaing, the Kachin and the Ching - all together around 78 percent of the population. The Bamar are wet-rice farmers and Theravada Buddhists. Bamar women use pale yellow powder, made from thanaka bark, to protect their faces against the sun. The Rakhaing have darker skin - a result of a long history of intermarriage with Indians. The majority of them are Buddhist, but a minority is Muslim, living in Sittwe and along the northern coast. The Chin have been animists traditionally, but most of them are converted Christians today, living in the forests close to India and along the Bangladesh border.

Austro-Tai: The Shan - also called Tai Yai - count over 9 percent of Myanmar's population. The Shan are wet-rice farmers and Theravada Buddhists. They inhabit the valleys and high plains of northeast Myanmar. Shan men and married women wear turbans.

The Indians: A large immigrated community especially in Yangon and Mandalay.

The Chinese: Around 1.3 millions of Chinese are living in Myanmar today. A part of them came from Yunnan and lives near Yunnan. Another part arrived during the colonial era and became merchants or restaurant owners. Read about Chinese People in Burma.

Thailands Islands and Beaches: Andaman SeaKoh Lanta Beaches and resorts, the old town, the sea gypsies and the National Park. With Google MapRailay Beach Beaches and resorts, with Google MapKoh Rok Beaches and resorts, with Google MapKoh Ngai Beaches and resorts, with Google MapKoh Kradan Beaches and resorts, with Google MapKoh Phayam Beaches and resorts, with Google MapPhuket Discover the old town, with Google Map